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A cost-benefit framework for evaluating conditional cash-transfer programs

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 April 2013

Robert J. Brent
Robert J. Brent*
Affiliation:
Fordham University, New York – Economics, 441 East Fordham Road, Bronx, NY 10458, USA
*
Robert J. Brent, Fordham University, New York – Economics, 441 East Fordham Road, Bronx, NY 10458, USAbrent@fordham.edu
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Abstract

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Following the prototype of Mexico’s Progresa program, a number of countries in Latin America and the Caribbean have initiated conditional cash transfer (CCT) programs. More recently, countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) have followed suit. However, no comprehensive framework to carry out a cost-benefit analysis (CBA) exists. This paper presents such a CBA framework for CCTs which enables design features such as targeting and conditionality to be separately evaluated. The framework is applied to an evaluation of a CCT program for orphans and vulnerable children in Kenya. The role of conditionality in SSA and the need for distribution weights is discussed.

Keywords

CBA conditional cash transfersdistributional weightsKenyaOVC
Type
Article
Information
Journal of Benefit-Cost Analysis , Volume 4 , Issue 2 , 01 August 2013 , pp. 159 - 180
Copyright
Copyright © Society for Benefit-Cost Analysis 2013

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